Collapsible container-wall connection



Nov. 14, 1944. P. ZALKIND COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER WALL CONNECTION Original Fiid Oct. 19, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l m 0 6 9 5 2 I /l J J I 1 000m. lullfi J 6 w J & M J a 8 flnl 111K001 Nov. 14, 1944.

P. ZAL KIND COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER WALL CONNECTION Original Filed Oct. 19, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 14,1944 I v I U'Niliib PATEN T-dififiet:

CbLIJAPSIBLE-CONTKINER WAIJL CONNECTION i hni'i; zfauaad, New iaik; Y. Original application, octobei 19 1935; ser' al' 45,114; now latent No. 23101019, dated Augfist 6, 15140 i Diy idel and this application August. 3,1946; serist Nb. 350,629 A 5 claims: 01. 3 12- 1 "j jzmssgggqas isf eggigyigiorigg ,gisimsiii fi s df fibrous .naturegl prefer t6 use} lsmi fiea-rgse 1 Number 45,714Lfi1ed October 19, I935, terialcomprising a, metallieulayer co'mbmedgwlth P a teqt Nfo. 2, 2 10 9, apd yelates tg egnjcsjnegs, a dominant non-metallie' leiyer having aLSpDIfQOr hd m'qr pgirtieillarifi'elatesfio ebllalpsible' 'as- I bendingli'n'e Ion: whichjth'e laminated s1 ;r11eture is i'fi ffsi fiIin hdirafiis ahidmjh 1i1' je., x manually foldeiblei .Such a sheet is described-fend Iri' nfi Pqtfi 2,133,011, dijx' isi'onef iiiy claimedzin my..cbpendii1g,application Serial Pa e s fiq fifiafiil filed ocfober l6 l93$ noyv Path No. 2, 4, gdie J H v: 2,2331'90'6', 6f whiefi this apblictioniis co pi 4m ,.,In..,ad,dit i0n .to .th. v advantage iaccru'ingizto. m mm in part mini-mingmenifir? bli i k 10 nO Bl.c nst u q omthiiough'ecohbnhy of material. 1" H6511 certa inpther fladyantaigeous efeaturesxmay base;- cured as laterbe described in .furethezed'etail. '1;hl Wi h asingc mprisin a. t p member 5nd mqside members; track membersumayhee applied eitlgexqdirectlyjco the side members dn toe thelfllaias attached to the side members. In this manner, thgtgaelgs age at or] near the edges of etheiqgs'ing 19 m aim-thu aybe more easil ka i oi blank; time in a v e m Qf ce in iwherejin' nemrack y tb in t qneq at so e dist nq 's .fmm. the c edge of the casing blank. This is of particulaf idii'l eqvan ese in handlin blanks of lar e sizeusuch aeif fis fl qe el rpdlaq .,gasin e uitsbleior use Withfiling drawers fo r letter sizeor legal size ings "WV I I V I V ;Acc0riding1y, obgects'ofrimy invention" age 365151 lvuhaye found that; when superposed casings of vide a folding or eollapsible casi'rigc'dfiifiy'i'sin g s ide a stgckare suitablxinterlocked;suchiriterlocking V walls with either fi d q t 11 i il qf may be arranged in amahner thatthe-casings 40 Viaerdwitfi femforblmu mbfi W other. Thus wherein my novel cdhstruc'tib'r'r I use a." casing comprising wte'p Wall and tw'os'id'e Walls; and? with suchfiovel construction; 'I'pl'aie' the;catsing -over a s'i'inila'r' easiii'g and's'fi'i 3m terlock' the two casifigs together, A the top offthe subjal'eent da'sin'g' acts as a'- 56mm mxhbir far the upper casing and the ififerldekin'g m'ans the parentapplication of this invention and entitled:

Clips, Ser. No. 45,712

Rollers, Ser. No. 45,715

Panels, Ser. N 0. 45,708

Predetermined bend line, Ser. No. 45,710 Reentrant clips, Ser. No. 45,709

Container fastening means, Ser. N 0. 46,316

' folded into one form of my casing.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a casing formed from the blank of Figure 1 as viewed from the front end of the casing.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the casing of Figure '1 as viewed from the rear end.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view on the plane 4-4 of Figure 2 showing a means for main ,taining the front end of the side wall extensions in proper position relative t the casing.

Figure5 is an enlarged sectional View on the plane 55 of Figure 2 showing the construction of the rear end of the casing and means for maintaining the rear end of the side wall extensions in proper position relative to the casing.

Figure '6 is an enlarged sectional view on the plane 6--6 of Figure 3 showing a method of forming a drawer stop in the top horizontal front .end reinforcing member of the casing.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the rear end of a stack of two casings made from the blank of Figure 1, mounted on a suitable base section, and interlocked.

Figure 8 is a perspective view similar to Figure 7 but showing the front end of the stack with a drawer, partly broken away (with a drawer stop), in stopped position with respect to one of the casings.

' Figure 9 is an, enlarged section on the plane 9-9 of Figure 7 showing means for interlocking the rear end of superposed sections.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary vertical section View on line Ill-I0 of Figure 8.

- Figure 11 is a perspective view showing the details of a front interlocking member such as is shown'in place in Figures 7 and 8.

Figure 12 is an enlarged front elevation showing a method of strengthening the corners of the tie member for reinforcing the end of the casing.

Figure 12a is a perspective view showing the details of a rear interlocking member such as is shown in place in Figures 7 and 9. I I

Figure 13 is a side elevation of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view on the line I l-I4 of Figure 12. Referring now to Figure 1, the blank I comprises a top panel 2, side wall panels 3a and 3b, back panel 4, side wall extensions 5a and 5b forming back reinforcement, and side wall extensions 6a and 6b forming bottom reinforcements. The top panel 2 is joined to the back panel 4 through the short panel 1. Similarly, panel 5a isjoined to the panel 3a through the panel 8a; and the panel 5b is joined to the panel 322 through the panel 8b. The boundaries of the various panels are defined by suitable score or bending lines along which the material may be manually folded; as for instance, the bend line 9a defines the boundary between the top panel 2 and the side wall 3a, the bend line 9b defines the boundary between the top panel 2 and the side panel '31),

and the bend line Ill defines the boundary between the top panel 2 and the connecting panel I.

The blank may be of any suitable sheet material, such as corrugated board. I prefer that the blank be formed from one of the various forms of laminated sheet which I have disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 21,411, dated May 14, 1935, now Patent No. 2,274,765. The side flaps 6a and 612 may be provided with the metallic channels I la and Ilb respectively. These channels may be clinched or otherwise fastened to the said flaps, and serve not only to reinforce the flaps but also may act as tracks for wheels which may be mounted on the bottom of a drawer which may be inserted in the casing formed when the blank is folded into set-up position. Such form of drawer is shown in my copending application entitled End fold casing, Serial No. 45,713, now Patent No. 2,088,315, and filed coincidentally with the parent case. At the rear end of the flaps 6a and 6b and held in place by the channel members Na and Nb, with a portion of their length projecting beyond the rear end of the flaps are the rods in and'l2b, the purpose of which will be explained later. The front end of the channels I la and I lb extend beyond the front ends of the flaps 6a and are formed into a shape to receive the ends I3a and I3b of the tie wire I4 as clearly show at 24 in Figure 4.

On the sides of the flaps 5a and 5b,'the metallic members I51: and I5!) are attached by any suitable means, as for instance, by the prongs I6. The members are preferably applied to the sheet on the far side as viewed in Figure l, and they protrude beyond the edge of the fiaps with the bending line I I approximately at the edge of the flap. The bending line H in the metal members I5a and I5b may be constructed'in the manner disclosed in my application entitled Predetermined bend line, Serial No. 45,710, new Patent No. 2,221,854,- and filed coincidentaly with the parent application. The metallic members IBa and I5b are each provided with two holes I8 one on each side of the bend line I1. These holes are of such'size and are so placed that when the,

casing is folded into position, the rod I2a will enter the holes is on member I54: and the rod I2b will enter the holes I8 on the member I5b. Als0,-each of members I50; and I5?) is provided with the slots I9 formed by slitting the metal and deforming the material between the slits out of the plane of the member, and with the rabbet 20. Both the slots I9 and the rabbet 20 are shown more clearly in Figure 9.

The end panel 4 is provided with the holes2I, adapted to receive the pins I20: and I2?) when the casing is folded into position for use.

At the front end of the top panel 2, the metallic member 22 is attached by any suitable means as for instance by clinching to the sheet material of the blank. This channel member holds the tie wire I4 to the front edge of the top member in a manner whereby the tie member I4 may be ro' tated about the edge of the casing. The member 22 may be provided with the open cup shaped portions 23 which act as stops for a drawer as will be later described in further detail. These cups 23 which are more clearly shown in Figure 6 may be formed as an integral portion of the channel 22 or they may be separate members attached to the channel 22 in any suitable manner.

The tie member I4 may be a heavy wire bent into the form of a U as shown in Figure 1 with the inwardly projecting portions 13a and I3b,

asses-2o These portions may be of a length substantially equal to the width of-flaps 6a and 615; or the webs of the channels Ila-and lIbarecu-t away in the overhanging portion 2'4 show-nin Figure 4, the inwardly projecting portions 13a and I31) may be extended so that they form a continuous memher at the bottom of the casing. Th'wire 14 may have a simple right angle bend at the cert ners 25, but where an ur-iusually heavy loadis to be carried or where a large side casing is to be formed, the corners 25 may bereinfo'rcedl My preferred method of reinforcing-is shown in- Figures 12, 13 and 14 which shows in three views on an enlarged scale, (meet the corners 25.

Aswill be seen in these figures, the wire is pressed out at the corner to form an I shaped section of relatively large depth at the corner where the maximum bending moment ma be applied to the tie member. In this way, the tie member will have considerably greater strength against deformation out of proper angular relationship than would a plain angular bend in the wire. It may be understood that prior to forming the I section, the wire may be upset at the location that the I is to be formed. v

At the front end of the side wall, panels 3a and 3b are the metallic members 2612 and 26b. These members may be attached to the panels by any member's 26a and 267) are the slots 28", similar in construction to the andl5b'.

The construction of the reinforcing members around the front open end of the casing general follows that shown in my copending application- Serial No. 693,841 of October 16, 1934, so far as this construction is" applicable to a casing having no bottom panel, and the method of supporting the drawer within the casing may be one slots I9 on the members l5a of'the forms shown in my copending application entitled Roller casing, ferred to.- t

P'riorto shipment the blank may be folded "back on the score lines 30a, l and 30b. PanelBa may then be attached to panel 3a by any suitable means. Adhesive may be used for this purpose. Another suitable means is by the use of the stitching 3| shown in Figures 2', 3 and 5. In a similar manner, panel I is aflixed to panel 2, and panel 8b is aflix'ed to'panel 3b. In this condition, the panel 4 will'lie against panel 2', and panel 512' will lie against panel 3b. Theiront tie member I4 is then swungback so as to lie flat against the panel 2, when the blank I' is in preferred position for shipment.

To set up the casing, the rear panels 4, Ea'and 5b are first folded back so that they extend outwardly from the rear end of the blank on the and hereinbefore rescore lines Ill, 3lla and 30b respectively. These panels thus assume a position relative to the panels 2, 3a and 312 similar to that shown for panel 4 in Figure 3. i

The body of the casing is then foldedon the score lines 33a, 9a,. 9b'and33li so that the panels 6a} 2* and 6b are perpen'di'cular'to the panels 3d and- 3b as shownin Figure 2. tie member 14 is then rotated on its axis until ,it hes flush against the-front edge or the casing in which pesitieh it substantially races the entire "front edgeof the blank and its rojections Isa and l3b cooperate with the extensions 24 of the channel members Ha and llb. It will be noted in Figure 4 that therr'ont edge or the extension 24 isso shaped as to allow easy entrance of the portions I31 and tee; and that after the entrance of these parts within the extension 25, the two parts are firmly held to each other by the shape and elasticity of extension 24. The front reinforcing member's 25 and 261) are then bent back upon theirscore lines, which completes the assembly of the front endor the casing The ahg'le wife I4 aided by the reinforcing members 22, 26a and 26b prevents angmar' movement of the top panel 2 relative to'th'e side panels 3a and 3bv at the 'frontend of the casing and at the same time these members p'e'r'r'nit the front end of the-casing to carry a heavy vertical load without buckling. The bottom extensions 6d and 6b of the side walls are also maintained in proper angularrela'tionship by' means of the angle wire l4. In this case, the Wire cooperates withthe extension 24 of the members Ha and I lb and with the side rein beimposed upon the members 26a and 26b.

After the front end has been folded mt place, the flaps 5a and 5b are folded down so asto be perpendicular to the panels 2, 3d, and 3b as well the holes 1e in member 15a will" coact with the as to-th flaps 6a and 6b. 'The panel 5a is clearly shown in this position in Figure 3-. When these panels are brought down into this position, the

pin l2' a enters one of the holes l8 on-memb'ers I511, and the pm 121) enters one of the 'holes |8 on'the member l'-5b. Panel 4 is then swung down beingpivoted on the bend line 10', until it lies flush upon and on the outside of panels 511 and.

5b as -shown in Figur 5. this position, the cut out portions- 2f will fit around the pins 12a and I 21)". "Members- I'5d and 15b are then bent on their score lines l-Lat which time the second of pin I20 and the second of the holes [Bin'meniber lab will cba'ct with'th'e pin lit; The, back I member comprising the panels]. 5a and 5b, is thus firmly held in place within the casing shell. This back member being of double thickn'e' s and being inset within the casing walls forms a rigid support for the rear end of the casing, so that the rear end will retain its proper angular relationship and will support a load of considerable magnitude. Moreover, the bottom flaps 6a and 6b are firmly securedto the rear wall by'the' pins Hot and IZb projecting through the holes 18 in the-metal strips I511 and l5b. v

Both the front and rear end of the casing are thus secured against collapse after the casing has been set up for use, even though the casing may be readily shipped'in a collapsed condition. The casing may be used as a single casing as shown in Figure Z. Such a casing may be set on the floor or on a desk ortable, or it may be used re'adil'y'be used in stacks of two or more casings;

preferably with a base section of similar construction. Individual casings of such a stack may be readily interlocked witheach other and the bottom casing of such a stack may be readily interlocked with the base section. Moreover, adjacent stacks may be readily interlocked with each other.

Figures 7 and 8 show a stack of two casings mounted on a base section. As shown, the base section is of a construction similar to the casing sections except that the height of the base section is less than that of the casing sections. Thus, as shown, the side wall members 32a and 32b of the base section are of less height than the side wall members 3a and 3b of the casing sections. Also, as shown, the projections 13a and [3b of the tie member M are extended to form a continuous member 33. across the base section. Between this tie member 33 of the base section and the top reinforcing member 22 of the base section, there may be inserted the panel 34 to give a finished appearance to the base section.

The slots [9 in the members la and I5b at the rear end of the casing are provided to receive the hook shaped metal member 35, shown in detail in Figure 120.. As will be clearly seen in the sectional view shown in Figure 9, the shank 36 of the hook 35 is inserted into the slots I9 until the end of the shank rests against the outstanding rabbet which forms a stop to provide for proper positioning of the hook. The lower strap 31 forming one of the slots I9 may also be used as a stop by coacting with the top portion of the hook 35. To interlock the rear end of the casing with a subjacent casing, it is necessary merely to place the hooks 35 of the superposed section over the flange formed by the panel I and a portion of the top panel 2 of the subjacent section. The slots l9 may be placed at any location along the members 15a and [51). One side of the hook in member [5a will then contact the flange formed by the panel 8a; and one side of the hook in member 151) will contact the flange formed by the panel 8b. In this way, the hooks will prevent lateral movement as well as longitudinal movement of the superposed casing relative to the subjacentcasing. In this, moreover, the two casings (or the bottom casing and the base section) will be firmly securedto each other at their rear ends; and this method of interlocking may be applied without reaching behind the stack of casings.

of the two casings together. As described above, the hook M will be pointing upward. However, the interlocking member will operate with equal facility to bind together a stack of casings if its position is reversed, that is, if the shank 39a is inserted into the upper slots of the lower casing and the shank 39b is inserted into the lower slots of the upper casing. In this position the hook 4! will point downward. Whether the interlock member 38 is placed so that the hook is pointing up or down, the hook will be outstanding from the casing. This condition, I utilize to interlock adjacent casings. Thus, the hooks may be inserted in a manner to point upward on one side of the casings and to point downward on the other side of the casings. The hook 4| on the outerlock of one casing will then enter the slot 43 of the interlock on its adjacent casing, each of the hooks clasping the intermediate portion 40 of its mating interlock, which I have pressed out of the plane of the shank portions 39a and 3911 a sufficient distance to allow space for the hook of the mating interlock between the casing and the portion 40.

In applying the interlocks to two casings of a stack, I prefer that the back interlocks be first insertedin the slots of the upper casing, that the front interlocks be then inserted in the upper The front end of the casing is provided with the slots 28 adapted to coact with. the interlocking strap 38. This strap and its method of application is similar to interlocking means disclosed in my copending application Ser. No. 693,841, filed Oct. 16, 1933. It is shown in detail in Figure 11. It comprises the shanks 39a and 39b of a size to snuglyenter the slots 28 and a somewhat wider middle portion 48 provided with the hook 4|. The middle portion 40 is bent out of the plane of the shanks 39a and 39?) on the lines 4211 and 42?) so that the middle portion 40 lies in a plane standing out from the plane of the shank portions and parallel therewith. This forms a small flange at the lines 42a and 422), which act to properly position the member 38 with respect to both the superposed and subjacent section when the shank 39b is inserted into the slots 28 at the top of the subjacent section and the shank 39a is inserted into the slots 28 at the bottom of the superposed section, as shown in Figures '7 and 8. When the interlocking member 38 is inserted in the manner just described, it will firmly hold the front ends slots of the lower casing. The back interlocks may then be hooked around the flange at the back of the top of the lower casing. The front end of the upper casing may then be swung down, using the rear interlock hooks as pivots and the upstanding interlocks on the front of the lower casing will enter the slots of the front end of the upper casing. Where stacks are to be interlocked with each other, the first erected stack should have the prongs 4i of the front interlocks pointing upward and the later erected stack should have the prongs adjacent to the first stack pointing downwardly. In this manner, the downward projecting prong 4| will interlock the first stack' when the casings of the second stack are swung downward on the rear interlocking hooks as has just been described. I

In Figure 10 I have shown the manner in which the cups 23 formed in the upper front reinforcing members may be used as a stop to prevent acciv latter is attached thestrap 44 by any suitable means, as for instance, by the prongs 46. The strap 44 is provided with the short hook portion 45 extending slightly below the drawer bottom 48. When the drawer is withdrawn to the end of its normal forward travel, the hook 45 mounted on the rear of the drawer engages the cup 23 mounted on the front of the casing. The hook portion 45 is shown as extended downward in a straight line from the rear of the drawer.

While in the foregoing description, I have described various wall connecting and supporting means in conjunction with a three-sided container, each of such means and members may be of particular value in all types of collapsible containers. Accordingly, I do not intend to be bound by the specific disclosures herein but only by the member of channel shaped cross-section secured at the margin of a horizontal wall at said open end, vertical reinforcing member secured at the front margin of each vertical wall, an angle wire member having a central portion rotatably secured by said horizontal member and a pair of legs movable into engaging relation with said vertical reinforcements, and an additional extension from each of said legs; means for positively gripping said additional extension comprising a metallic member having a channel mounted one wall of said container disposable parallel to said extensions. I

2. In a collapsible container having an open front and vertical and horizontal walls hingedly connected to each other along fold lines normal to said open front end and an additional flap foldably attached to the bottom edge of each of said vertical walls, said flaps being rotatable into horizontal position, a horizontal reinforcing member of channel shaped cross-section secured at the margin of a horizontal wall at said open end, vertical reinforcing members secured at the front margin of each vertical Wall, an angle wire member having a central portion rotatably secured by said horizontal member and a pair of legs movable into engaging relation with vertical reinforcements, and an additional extension from each of said legs, means for engaging said additional extension comprising metallic members each having a channel disposable parallel to said extensions, said extensions being held in the channels, the interior surfaces of said channel being deformed to positively grip said extensions, said metallic members being carried on the forward edges of said additional flaps.

3. In a collapsible container having an open front and vertical and horizontal walls hingedly aseazszo ing relation with a vertical reinforcement, a re inforced connection between the legs of said angle wire, said reinforced connection comprising a flattened area at the angle between the legsp horizontal member and a leg movable into engaging relation with a vertical reinforcement, a reinforced connection between the legs of said angle Wire, said reinforced connection comprising a flattened area of I cross-section at the angle between the legs, the said flattened portion of the angle wire comprising an area widened in the plane defined by the legs of the angle wire.

/5. In a collapsible container having an open front and a pair of vertical walls and a horizontal wall hingedly connected to corresponding edges of said vertical Walls along fold line normalflto said open front end andhorizontal members hingedly connected to opposite edges of said vertical walls and extending parallel to said hori-' zontal wall, a horizontal reinforcing member of channel shaped cross-section secured at the margin of said horizontal wall at aid open end, vertical reinforcing members secured at the front margin of each vertical wall, an angle wire member having a central portionrotatably secured by said horizontal member and a pair of legs movable into engaging relation with vertical reinforcing members, and an additional extension from each of said legs, metallic members mounted at the edges of said horizontal members; a channel in each metallic member; each extension being engaged in a channel.

. PHILIP ZALKIND. 

